• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Department of Agriculture regional office appears to be silent with regard the queries of the Negros Occidental provincial government, in connection with the missing 789 bags of fertilizers, which were delivered beyond office hours at the Capitol managed Rice Processing Center in Bago City.
Provincial Legal Officer Atty. Alberto Nellas yesterday said they have yet to receive an answer from the DA 6 regional office, asking why its supplier delivered beyond office hours, and without proper coordination with the provincial government.
“That is against the operating manual of the RPC,” he pointed out.
Nellas added that the only role of the provincial government “was only to distribute them to the local government units who are the identified beneficiaries.”
“The provincial government has no obligation to pay or replace the missing fertilizers,” he stressed.
Nellas added that they have provided the DA 6 regional office a copy of their investigation report on the case of the 789 sacks of fertilizers at the RPC.
The missing fertilizers also led to the dismissal from government service of Herminigildo Basilio, who was assigned at the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, for grave misconduct, serious dishonesty, and malversation of public funds or property.
Basilio has appealed his dismissal from government service before the Civil Service Commission.*
